Button-attaching machine.



J. KIEWICZ.

BUTTON ATTAGHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 18, 1912.

Patented June 9, 191$ 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1. v

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If. KIEWIGZ.

BUTTON ATTAOHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 18, 1912.

Patented June 9, 191% 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

0 T I l X Z316! a- Y &2 u M UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN KIEWICZ, 0F HYDE PARK, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE REE-CE BUTTON HOLE MACHINE COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

BUTTON-ATTACHING MACHINE.

Spediflcation of Letters Patent.

Patented June 9, 1914.

To all whom 1' t may concern.

Be it known that T, JoriN Kinwioz, a. citizen of the United States, residing at Hyde Park, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Button-Attaching Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being bad therein to the accompanying drawing.

My invention relates to button scwingmachines, and more particularly'to that type of button sewing machine wherein a plurality of shank-eyed buttons such as shoe buttons) are sewed sut'acessively and at spaced apart points upon any given article (such as a shoe) that type of machine being illustrated for example in my co-pending applications Serial No. 654,760 filed Oct. 14, L911. and No. (363,343 filed Dec. 1, 1911, which may be referred to to supply many details of construction that will for simplicity be omitted herefrom.

Among the objects of the present invention are the following: To provide a new and improved means for stopping the foremost button descending in the chute, whereby the button may be brought into attaching position through contact of the button eye or shank with the stopping device, thus obviating the inaccurate positioning of buttons due to stopping them by the button heads, which are of varying sizes and shapes; to provide a means such as a yield ing supporting device tending to hold each partly supported button in vertical position during the completion of the attachment; to provide a new and improved means of clamping or holding the foremost button in attaching position in the chute when the same has been brought to position by the stopping device; to provide a new and improved thread holder or device for securing the loose end ofthe attaching thread at the -beginning of each button attaching opera tion; and to provide a new button guide adapted to guide certain buttons in a superior manner.

I will first describe one form of machine embodying my invention, and will then point out the novel features in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming a, part hereof, Figure 1 is a front elevation partly in section of a button sewing machine embodying my present improvements. Fig.

2. is a left-hand. elevation of certain parts thereof including the button chute and the button stopping and clamping devices at the foot thereof. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 2. Fig. at is a cross-section on the plane 4% of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a diagram showing the relative timing of the chute swinging cam and the clamp operating cam. Fig. 6 is an enlarged front elevation of certain parts including the two-part presser foot and devices carried thereby. Fig. 7 is a right-hand elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a left-hand elevation of the work support and thread holding device carried thereby. Fig. 9 is a top view of the parts shown in Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is an enlarged partial vertical section of the work su port and thread holder shown in Figs. 8 ttIK 9.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

Some of the general parts of a button attaching machine are shown, and their construction and the presence of other parts which are not shown, will be understood by those skilled in the art. Some of these parts will now be referred to.

The base A has the overhanging arm B extending upwardly from it. in which is mounted to rotate the main or driving shaft C having a. driving pulley such as c for actuating it. In the overhangin portion of the arm B are the bearings or the needle bar D carrying needle d, and also the bearings for the cast-off bar if there be one. Supported also from the overhanging arm is a press-er foot E of the duplex type having the two sides separated at the sewing level by a sutlicient slit to permit the passage of buttons and button shanks as the work progresses. The presser foot constitutes one of a pair of opposed work clamping members, the other of which is the work support F, and in the present embodiment of my inveption the work support is shown below and the presser foot above the work. athough in some instances they may be reversed. There is of course also a button attaching mechanism, for example a knot forming mechanism for forming such a knot as is explained in my before-mentioned prior applications. This is not completely illustrated but will generally comprise besides the needle (Z a spreader G above the work, a looperg below the work and suitable take-ups, cast-offs, thread clamps and the like, which per 86 form no part of the present improvements and are not illus' trated.

As a means of guiding successive buttons to the sewing point or attaching position, I have shown a guide l-l extending from a higher to a lower position so as to constitute a chute enabling the buttons fed into the top of the chute from a reservoir or otherwise to be automatically fed by gravity to the lower exit of the chute, said exit being at or near button attaching position. The chute H is shown as pivoted at h to permit vibration about a horizontal axis, whereby the lower terminus of the chute may be swungtoward and from button attaching position. The chute is also shown as consisting of two parts it and if, the latter adjustable toward and from the former by adjusting means It to accommodate the chute to different sized buttons.

The means for vibrating the chute is shown comprising a crank arm If having a' forward connection It to the chute, said arm mounted upon an oscillating shaft h extending toward the right where at its far end it is provided with a second arm h having a pin projecting into a. cam groove in the face of cam c. The relation of the shaft, arm and cam may be substantially shown in Fig. 9 of my said application No. 654,760, the contour of the cam being such as to swing the chute inward toward button attaching position before the needle forms the first loop through the button eye, and outwardly again when the attaching has proceeded sufficiently far to enable the button and chute to be separated.

It will be noticed particularly from Fig. 2 that the chute H is of curved form so that the button eyes which pass downwardly in a vertical plane are'swung around to stand in a horizontal plane, presenting, their openings horizontally to receive the vertical passage of the needle. It will be appreciated that it is extremely important that the foremost button'in coming into position near the exit of the chute shall be adjusted with extreme accuracy to receive the passage of the needle. Among the disadvantages of inaccurate positioning of the button are the possibilities of the needle passing without instead of within the eye of the button, or the needle striking the metal of the eye, thereby breaking or bending thebu't-ton eye or needle.

or even the breakage of the button itself if it be composed of brittle material such for example as glass, which is now very fre quently employed. One object of the present invention therefore is to accurately stop the button in attaching position and firmly .clamp or hold it there. In my prior application No. 654,7 60 a stop is indicated at the mouth of the chute against which the head of the button contacts, It is obvious that no accurate positioning is possible with that device, since a variation in the curvature or shape-of the button head would alter its coaction with the stop and thereby cause the button eye to take variable positions. This is more particularly true in regard to the extreme variation in size, as Well as shape, of the dilferent buttons commercially used upon shoes and the like, some having broad, flat heads, some having high narrow heads, etc.

In the machine illustrated herein I have provided means near the exit of the chute or guide for stopping the foremost button in exact attaching position by contacting with the buttons shank eye. This stopping means takes the place of the inferior stop formerly employed and serves to overcome all the objections to the latter.

The button stopping means herein is shown as consisting of a yielding stop J, best seen in Fig. 2, one portion or end of it standing directly across the path of the but ton eyes, and another portion or end secured as at y' so as to permit a certain amount of yielding as may be necessary at the time that the chute and button are to be separated from each other after the partial attachment of the latter. The stop J comprises a light wire spring and in fact may consist simply of a piece of light wire properly secured to permit yielding of the portion which stands across the path of the button eye. The button stop herein might be attached to various parts of the machine, so long as the same yieldingly stands in the path. of the button shanks. but T prefer to attach it as shown at j to the vibrating chute so as to travel back and forth therewith. Since the chutes inward position is accurately determined by its cam. and since the position of the stop J can be accurately adjusted initially, each of the successive buttons as it comes toward at taching position bound to be accurately positioned by reason of the shank thereof coming up into contact with the stop J.

\Vhen the button has come to accurate position, it is desirable to clamp it there by a device separate from the stop and which isable to press with adequate clamping pressure preferably against the head of the button for preventing displacement thereof until the stage arrives for the button to pass out or separate from the chute. Such a clamping device is shown at K, it being shown pivoted to the chute so that the chute H, the stop J and the clamp K all vibrate in unison. The clamp K is movable relatively to the chute, being pivoted at is, so that its lower end swings laterally or horizontally toward and from the button head, the clamp being formed with a recess to correspond with the curvature of the head of the button. in my said prior application No. 654,760 the closing and releasing of the clamp was dependent upon the vibration of the chute, and an object of the present improvement is to overcome the objections of that construction and to enable the operation of the clamp to be determined independently of the vibration of the chute.

I will now describe a clamp operating mechanism which enables the clamp to be closed upon the button at any desired point of time prior to the passage of the needle through the button eye and whether the chute be vibrating or not, and similarly enables any desired releasing of the clamp, for example even before the chute begins its outward swinging. Secured to the clamp is a long curved outwardly extending operating arm It, the swinging of which effects the closing or releasing of the clamp. A cooperating arm Z52 is connected to arm in, for example by more contact. A spring k Fig. 2 tends to open the clamp and to press the arm lr against arm while the latter arm is pivoted at k'. forming one part of a bell crank lever. the other arm ll" of which extends inwardly to where it is provided with a cam roller engaged by the periphery of the cam 1- upon the main shaft t. The surface has, as shown, elevated portions and depressed portions connected by inclines, so that the roller N may be forced to the left for closing the clamp K and allowed to move toward the right for releasing the same. It will thus be seen that I have provided a cam constituting a means for controlling the operation of the clamp K, independently of the swinging of the chute. Thus any desired relationbetween the operative movements of the chute and of the clamp may be accomplished. For example. I have relatively timed the chute vibrating cam and the clamp operating cam as indicated in the diagram of Fig. 5. The full line X represents the timing of the chute vibrating cam. and the dotted line Y represents the timing of the clamp operating cam. The diagram, at the left, commences with theparts in the proper position for driving the needle through the button eye for the formation of the first loop, the chute being in to nearly its full extent and the clamp being closed or tight. The diagram is divided into twenty parts. During the first five parts the chute and clamp remain as stated while the needle passes through the button eye and back. Thereafter from the point 5 to 61; the chute moves slightly farther inward for the purpose of carrying the button beyond the needle position so that. the second loop will be outside the buttons eye. Thereupon the clamp is immediately loosened, indicated by the portion ofthe dotted line Y extending from point 6:} to 7. The chute is then swung outwardly to its full outward position, separating at the same time from the button which re mains to )ass on with the work. The chute is shown m outward position and the clamp loose from point t) to point 1R During this period the com )letion of the attachment of the button is e ected. and also the succeeding button in the chute slides into place. 'lhereupon at about point 18 the clamp closes upon the succeeding button. It will be noticed that this clamping of the button is etl'ected before the chute moves inwardly and independently of the chute movements. Thus the button which has come into contact with the stop J is securely held beyond the pcssibility of being disturbed in that position by the jogging of the chute or other influence. Immediately after such clamping the chute swings inwardly as indicated by the diagram until it has carried the button to a point directly in line with the needle. completing the cycle.

The device which supports in upright position the button being attached may be termed a button upholder, its function being to uphold the button against falling into such inclined position as to interfere with the proper operation of the knot forming mechanism. .While the button is in the chute, as seen in Figs. 2 and 3, it is held by the chute not in upright position, but at right angles thereto, the button eye standing horizontally for the reception of the vertically moving needle. Immediately, however, upon the separation of the button and chute my upholding devices comes into play, and I believe that I am the first to provide upon a machine of the kind specitied a means for effectively upholding shank-- eyed buttons of different sizes during attachment. The upholding device L shown herein is of a yielding or elastic character and is dual, having two opposed parts Z, Z, each of which presses upwardly lightly against the underside of the button head on either side of the button shank. As the work travels forward the button shank passes between the two sides e, e of the 'presser foot E, and between the two parts I, Z of the upholding device.

\Vhile not essential to the working of my upholding device L upon the presser foot E, which is herein the upper of the two work clamping members. the lower being the work support F.

The two parts Z, Z of the upholder are symmetrically arranged and constructed, one of them, the device Z, being described in detail as follows. It consists of a forwardly extending curved bar pivoted at Z to the presser foot portion 6, which may be specially constructed for the reception of the pivot, as seen in Fig. 6'. At its forward exinvention, I find it preferable to mount the tremity the bar Z. has a curved nose, as seen at Z to facilitate the entrance of the button into the intermediate space and to avoid conflict between the upholding device and the chute in the movements of the latter. The upholding device, that is to say each part Z, Z thereof, is yieldingly pressed upwardly against a stop Z fixed in the presser foot at such position as to determine a convenient maximum elevation for the upholding device. A spring such as the flat spring Z presses upon the heel Z of the upholding device so as to' maintain it yieldingly in contact with the stop or with the button X- during attachment of the latter to the work Y by the thread Z. By this construction I have a simple and automatic button upholding device acting with a light pressure to keep the button upright and coming into play immediately as each button passes out of the chute, and serving to hold it in upright position during the succeeding operations until the button has been completely attached and the attaching knots or stitches tightened.

In forming the type of knot referred to in my aforesaid prior applications, after the first loop or bite has been drawn through the button eye the second loop is drawn through the first loop and is then acted upon by a spreader which is a swingin device operated to enter between the stran s of the loop so as to spread the loop open and to then turn or tip the loop downwardly so as to spread it over the head of the button preparatory to the final drawing tight of the thread for the fixing of the knot. ThlS act of spreading the second loop over the button has been attended with some difiiculties, wing largely to the fact that the button being uncontrolled will fall or tlp over frequently insuch a direction as to stand in the way of the spreader, and frequentl also n such a way as to preclude the secon loop being properly drawn in under the button eye. These objections are entirely overcome ythe above described upholdlng device,

I which therefore not only renders. more certain the accurate formation and securing of the knots, but prevents accidental contact between the spreader and the button, which if the latter were'of brittle material such as glass would be apt tobe broken.

As shown, the two-part presser foot could be considered, with the devices L thereon, as a means of upholding the buttons, and in two senses the same is adjustable for different buttons (varyin in size, shape or height); Thus the s ring nature of each part L renders it ad ustable, that is, self adjustable, to the buttons, while the two sides 6, e of the presser foot ad ust toward and from each other according to the requirements of varying buttons. It is the fact of adjustment that is of .main importance, irrespective of whether automatic or manual, since it is that which,notwithstanding the button variations, enables in all cases an upward bearing or pressure on the under part of each button for upholding it during attachment; namely during that part of the attachment when a thread loop is spread, shed, or placed over the button.

Various buttons, particularly buttons formed of glass or other brittle material, frequently possess at the upper side of the head a decided projection, either for ornament or as an expedient for securing to the button head the metal or wire piece constituting the button eye, the stem of which piece passes completely through a central hole from thebottom to the top of the button head, and extends above thelatter, where it is enlarged or otherwise made fast. Such buttons are difiicult or impossible of being satisfactorily guided in the ordinary form of button guide such as shown in my prior applications, owing to the fact that, especially around the curved part of the chute and especially during the vibrating or jogging thereof, the button has insuflicient contact at its top side with the interior surface of the chute to prevent the tipping and binding of the button within the chute, thus stopping the progress. of the buttons. With my improvement about to be described. I have overcome this difiiculty, and I have also taken advantage of the projection at the top side of the button to improve the guiding thereof so that in in present machine such a button is more e ciently guided than the ordinary type of button in the ordinary type of chute. It has already been explained that'the chute H hereof is a twopart chute having the sides h and b relatively adjustable for different buttons. Within one portion h of the chute is formed a comparatively deep kerf or slot h whose Width is adequate to receive the buttons eyes, and whose depth is more than adequate for the greatest depth of button eye. Thus each descending button is guided by the enagement of its eye with the kerf h The utton head also afi'ords guidance by the contact of its flat underside with the interior surface of the chute portion 12.. I have formed a groove Win the chute portion k directly opposite the kerf It, for receivin the projection at the top of the button hea and in my machine the button is therefore guided also at this point. By reason of the I button head projection falling into the groove h the top side of the button head is enabled to come into direct contact with the inner face of the chute portion k which would be impossible with such a button inthe absence of the groove it". In this way four guiding actions assist keeping the :but-' tons in proper relative position during their descent. It will be noted moreover that the groove h does not interfere with the gold ance of ordinary buttons. and therefore the chute hereof is universal in its advantages.

In commencing to attach a line of buttons, for example to a shoe, the attaching thread at the beginning if it has a loose end, should be temporarily held while the knot forming operations begin. To this end I have provided a novel thread holding device upon one of the work clamping members, preferably the lower member, the work sup port F. This work support is shown as comprising a substantially horizontal plate 7", centrally slotted at f to permit the sewing operations. My improved thread holder mounted thereon is shown as consisting of an elongated spring member M, whose one end is secured at m, so as to permit play or movement of the other end, which latter is the holding end on cooperating with the plate f for holding a thread between them.

There has been a difficulty with the ordinary thread holding device that the forcible engagement of heavy thread therein oft repeated, gradually bends and wears the device so as to sometimes destroy it or at least impair its efficiency. These objections were true of the type of holding device consisting of a short piece or tongue struck out of the material of a sheet metal part such as the work support. Such objections are entirely overcome in my present improvement, in which is comprised an elongated member controlled by spring action, so arranged as to cooperate with another member for holding the thread between them, the elongated holding device having a degree of play about a distant point, namely its farther end, so that no wear or destruction is probable. The holding device M is shown as consisting of a piece of elastic wire fixed by a screw at m and yielding at its other end by reason of the play of its own elasticity. An efl'ective construction and fitting of the device is as shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10, wherein the spring wire M is doubly bent at an intermediate portion so as to pass through an aperture in the plate f the extreme end m only showing to view above the work support. The tendency of the spring action is to hold the end m of the spring member M downwardly in pressing contact with the plate f, while the aperture in sald plate is sufficiently large to permit the holding end m to slightly rise for the admission of thread, and the extreme end of the wire is beveled as shown to facilitate the thrusting of the thread into the thread holder.

The described thread holder devices are not herein claimed but are made the subject of a pending divisional application filed March 13, 1913, Serial No. 767,298.

Having thus described my novel button attaching machine comprising several novel cooperating features, I would add that while I have described said features in detail I desire to secure Letters Patent the broad principles thereof, and to cover the same irrespective of details excepting as details may be set forth in the claims appended hereto.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A machine for attaching shank'eyed buttons including in combination, button attaching means comprising a needle adapt ed to pass through a buttons eye, a movable chute or guide for conducting successive buttons toward attaching position, means near the exit of said chute or guide for stopping the foremost button in exact attaching position by contact with its shank-eye, said stopping means carried by the chute and means for clamping the button when stopped in attaching position within the chute.

2. A machine for attaching shank-eyed buttons including in combination, button attaching means comprising a needle adapted to pass through a buttons eye, a chute or guide for conducting successive buttons toward attaching position, a yielding slop located near the exit of said chute or guide for stopping the foremost button in exact attaching position by contact with its shankeyc, said stop carried by the chute and acting upon the foremost button while still in the chute and means for clamping the but ton when stopped in attaching position.

3. A machine for attaching shank-eyed buttons including in combination, button attaching means comprising a needle adapted to pass through a buttons eye, a chute or guide for conducting successive buttons toward attaching position. means for swinging said chute toward and from attaching position, a yielding stop located near the exit of said chute or guide for stopping the foremost button in exact attaching position by contact with its shank-eye, and means for clamping the button when stopped in attaching position, said stop and said clamp both carried on the said chute or guide.

4. A machine for attaching shanlceyed buttons including in combination, a chute or guide for conducting successive buttons to attaching position, a movable clamp carried by said chute or guide and adapted to clamp a button in attaching position in said guide, means for swinging said chute toward and from attaching position, and an automatic clamp-closingand-releasing device. as a cam, having connections adapted to control said clamp independently of said chutes movements.

5. A machine for attaching shank-eyed buttons including in combination, a chute or guide for conducting successive buttons to attaching position, means for stoppin a button in attaching position, a move 1e clamp adapted to clamp a button in attaching position in said guide, means for swinging said chute toward and from attaching position, and an automatic clamp-closingand-releasing device, as av cam, having connections adapted to control said clamp independently of said chutes movements.

6. A machine for attaching shank-eyed buttons including in combination, a chuteor guide for conducting successive buttons to attaching position, a movable button stop carried by said chute or guide, a movable clamp carried by said chute or guide and adapted to clamp a button in attaching position in said guide, means for swinging said chute toward and from attaching position, and an automatic clampclosing-and-releasing device, as a cam, having connections adapted to control said clamp independently of said chutes movements.

7. A machine for attaching shank-eyed buttons including in combination, a vibrating button chute or guide, a device, as a cam,-

for vibrating said chute or guide inwardly to attaching position and outwardly therefrom, a movable button clamp carried by said chute or guide, and a device, as a. cam,

for closing and releasing said button clamp,

said chute vibrating device and said clamp operating device being so relatively timed that the clamp closes upon the foremost button in the chute before the inward movement of the chute, and opens prior to the outward movement of the chute.

8. A machine for attaching shank-eyed buttons including in combination, means for conducting successive buttons to attaching position, means for attaching each button, and means for upholding each button during attachment comprising a two-part device located below the button head to receive the button shank between its two parts and to areas yieldingly upward against the butt-on ea 9. A machine for attaching shank-eyed buttons including in combination, means for conducting successive buttons to attaching position, means for attaching each button, a pair of opposed work clamping members and a two-part device carried by one of said members located below the button head to receive the button shank between its two parts and to press yieldingly upward against the button head. 7

10. A machine for attaching shank-eyed buttons including in combination a chute or guide for conducting successive buttons to attaching position, means for attaching each button, means for holding each button sidewise in the chute while a thread loo-p is formed through its eye, means for separating the button and chute, work clamping members, and means distinct from said work clamping members for upholding the button when separated from the chute during the completion of its attachment. said attaching means comprising a spreader for spreading a loop over the button head while so upheld.

11. A machine for attaching shank-eyed buttons including in combination, a chute or guide for conducting successive buttons to attaching position. means for attaching each button, means for holding each button sidewise .in the chute while a thread loop is formed through its eye, means for separating the button and chute, work clamping members and means for upholding the but-- ton when separated from the chute during the completion of its attachment, said upholding means comprising a yielding device carried by a member other than the chute and work support.

12. A machine for attaching shank-eyed buttons including in combination a Work support beneath the work, mechanism for forming knots or loops for attaching successive buttons by thread, and a. button upholding device'above thework, adjustable to different buttons to bear on the under part of each button for holding it upright during forming knots or loopsfor attaching suc' cessive buttons by thread, and a button upholding device above the work, the same being self adjustable to different buttons to bear on the under part of each button for holding it upright during attachment.

14:. A machine for attaching shank-eyed buttons including in combination a work support beneath the 'work, mechanism for forming knots or loops for attaching successive buttons by thread, and a button upholding device above the work adjustable to different buttons to bear on the under part of each button for holding it upright during the placing of a thread loop over the button head, and means for placing the thread loop over the buttons head.

15. A machine for attaching shank-eyed buttons including in combination a work support beneath the Work, mechanism for forming knots or loops for attaching successive buttons by thread, and a two-part button upholding device above the work adjustable to different buttons to bear on the under part of each button at both sides thereof for holding it upright during attachment.

16. A machine for attaching shank-eyed buttons including in combination a work support beneath the work, mechanism for forming knots or, loops for attaching successive buttons by thread, means for conthrough the button eye, and a button up- 0 holding device above the work adjustable to different buttons to hear on the under part of each button for holding it upright during the placing of a thread loop over the button heat.

17. A machine for attaching shank-eyed buttons including in combination a work support beneath the work, mechanism for forming loops or knots for attaching successive buttons by thread, and a two part presser-foot above the work adapted to have its two parts relatively adjusted for buttons of varying characteristics, and said two parts being so constructed at their upper sides as to bear on the under part of such varying buttons at both sides and uphold the same during attachment.

18. A machine for attaching shank-eyed buttons including in combination a work support beneath the work, mechanism for forming loops or knots for attaching successive buttons by thread, means for conducting successive buttons in sidewise attitude to attaching position and releasing each button after a thread loop is passed through the button eye, and a two part presser-foot above the work adapted to have its two parts relatively symmetrically adjusted for buttons of varying characteristics, and said two parts being so constructed symmetrically at their upper sides as to bear on the under part of such varying buttons at both sides symmetrically and uphold the same during the placing of a thread loop over the button head.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN KIEWICZ.

Witnesses:

HAROLD J. Woon, CHRISTIAN H. T. HAoEIs'rEIN. 

